Category Archives: Special Features

Wine of the Day: Cameron ‘Saignee of Pinot Noir’ 2014 6-11-16

Cameron ‘Saignee of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $18 special

This is a pretty wine from every perspective. For starters, it’s another episode in the series of sub-$25 selections from Cameron which have been a hit this year. Then there’s the contrast of the ruby-rose juice and the electric-teal label that has my graphics receptors feeling all fuzzy… We haven’t even opened the bottle yet!

The saignee method entails ‘bleeding off’ the juice after limited contact with the skins – in this instance, of Pinot Noir. In this case, the resultant wine has some nice body to it, with lush cherry elements, rhubarb, strawberry, and a perfect little kiss of white pepper. We can’t get enough of it personally, but are happy to share our staff for rose-lovers and Cameronites nationwide! … Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire 1990 6-10-16

Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire 1990 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $59 special

Were the Loire Valley to be a house, the ‘Les Picasses’ vineyard would be the attic: full of secrets, haunted if by history, and unscathed by the harsh hand of modernity. Domaine Olga Raffault, now run by Mme. Raffault’s grandaughter Sylvie and Sylvie’s husband Eric, is the perfect guide to the tour of this beautiful – if fictitious – house.

‘Les Picasses’ sits atop the steep slopes along the Vienne River in Savigny-en-Véron, a bucolic little commune east of Saumur and south of Bourgueil. Vines there are roughly fifty years in age, planted in alluvial clay soils with a chalk-limestone base. Chez Raffault winemaking is careful, organic, and traditional.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Crowley ‘a la votre’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 6-9-16

Crowley ‘a la votre’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 ($19.95) Buy Now: $16 special

We’re always excited about a new wine from Crowley. Tyson’s wines tend to be quite cerebral, understated, and complex. The ‘a la votre’ cuvee is new to this year; the wine showcases the freshness of W.V. fruit in a way which is approachable and direct without lacking character. Cranberries, spice, and a touch of earth make for a perfect summer red! – Tyler… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Chateau Auney L’Hermitage ‘L’Hermitage Blanc’ 2013 6-8-16

Chateau Auney L’Hermitage ‘L’Hermitage Blanc’, Graves 2013 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special

Is white Bordeaux having a moment? If not, it should be! The 2013 from Chateau Auney is nothing short of divine. Melon, minerals, and honey make for a near-perfect wine; aromas of vanilla and exotic fruits invite the drinker into a balanced and complex mêlée of soft and assertive elements. It’s a practice of opposites, of harmony, and of elegance. – Tyler… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Antoine Arena ‘BG’ Bianco Gentile, Corsica 2012 6-7-16

Domaine Antoine Arena ‘BG’ Bianco Gentile, Corsica 2012 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special

Antoine Arena makes arguably the greatest wines of Corsica. His vineyards are dramatic, with rocky terrain and fast-rising slopes rising from the fertile island. Some of the land was once olive groves, while others were long-lost vineyards which had lain unused and unseen because of their rugged and remote situation. As operations grew, Arena blasted out rocky plots and planted new vines to supplement their 60-year-old plantings.

From a miniscule, half-hectare vineyard of clay and limestone soils planted in the late-90’s. Bianco Gentile is an ancient varietal which Arena had discovered and had genetically tested; the wine is rich, complex, tangy, and broad. Salty sea air and peach fruit qualities make for great concentration and a long, lingering finish – this would be fantastic with rich seafood dishes!… Read the rest